The Golden Swan Temple

The other day I went for a drive down the Old Sukhumwit Road. In the past, people had to drive down the coast road in Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao Provinces on their way to the beaches in Chonburi and Pattaya. It is a nice drive though not many people do it these days. If you are coming from Bangkok it is much quicker to use the Bang Na-Trad Highway or the motorway. But, if you want to take your time and explore the coastline then it is worth taking the old road. You never know what you might discover.

Just over the border into Chachoengsao Province I discovered this temple by accident. I was trying to find a side road that led down to the coast. This one was a good find. It is called Wat Hong Thong (วัดหงษ์ทอง) which means the “Golden Swan” in Thai. The chedi and the temple buildings are actually built over the water on a pier. At the far end there is also a memorial for Prince Chumphon who is a kind of patron saint for fishermen.

If you want to go there by car, you need to drive down Highway 3 from Paknam. You need to go past Bang Pu Seaside Resort and also the fishing town of Klong Dan. A short while after the town, just after you cross the border into Chachoengsao, you will see a sign for a road on the right that leads to Wat Hong Thong. I have also marked it on Google Maps for you. If you drive down there and find something else then please let us know. In the meantime I will try and find you some more hidden gems that you won’t find in any guidebooks.